The Water Club To Dock In Intracoastal Mall

The Water Club (no relation to Tony Chan's Water Club) is slated to open late May in the Intracoastal Mall at 3969 N.E. 163 St., North Miami Beach (the former locale of Shooters Waterfront Bar and Restaurant, which closed in 2001). The new indoor-outdoor venue will encompass 27,500-square-feet and seat over 400. The sprawling space will include glass-fronted wine room, 35-foot-long bar, bay views, glassed-in open kitchen, DJ booth, twenty-one 50-inch plasma TV's, swimming pool with sun deck, and a dock that accommodates up to 50 boats.

Pretty ambitious considering the shape of the economy, no? Jolie Balido, president of Roar Media, the public relations agency representing The Water Club: "At a time when most restaurants are scaling back, The Water Club is boldly opening because, despite the economy, people still seek good food and entertainment on our ever-diminishing waterfront." Apparently The Water Club is its own little stimulus package too, as it estimates to employ more than 250 people.

Executive chef is Christopher Sepe" -- formerly of o-R-o, Mark's, and La Vieille Maison. Cuisine here promises to be "a broad selection of American classics and Southern French, Italian and Mediterranean-style dishes including an array of fresh seafood, salads, sandwiches and classic favorites such as steaks, burgers, ribs, and a full raw bar". Certified organic chicken and meats will be offered, fish that is "long-line or hook-and-line caught", and, every restaurants favorite claim these days, "produce sourced directly from local growers". We'll see. Appetizers are pegged in the $6 to $12 range, sandwiches averaging $11, and dinner entrées will go from $14 to $29.

Note to self: Remember to polish and buff yacht in time for grand opening.